Gua Sha, Facial Cupping & Red Light Therapy: Tools to Elevate Your Skincare Routine

Looking to support your skin on a deeper level? These tools — gua sha, facial cupping, and red light therapy — are beautiful additions to any skincare ritual.

Rooted in holistic wellness, each of these practices helps activate your body’s natural healing systems to improve circulation, support lymphatic drainage, reduce inflammation, and boost collagen production.

Whether you’re working toward smoother texture, less puffiness, or simply a calm moment in your routine, these tools are gentle, effective ways to nourish your skin from the inside out.

Gua Sha

This ancient Chinese practice uses a smooth stone to help drain lymph, sculpt the face, and bring life back to tired, stagnant skin.

Benefits:

• Reduces puffiness

• Sculpts jawline and cheekbones

• Helps release facial tension

• Boosts glow through better circulation

• Promotes detoxing through the lymphatic system

How to Use:

1. Start with a clean face and apply facial oil

2. Use light, upward strokes — starting at the neck, then moving to the jaw, cheeks, and forehead

3. Always stroke outward toward the ears or down toward the collarbone to guide lymph flow

4. Repeat each stroke 3–5 times using gentle pressure

Pro Tip: Keep your tool in the fridge and use it in the morning to reduce puffiness. Follow with an eye elixir and gua sha under the eyes for extra sculpting and brightening.

Shop:

My Favorite Gua Sha Oil for Acne Prone Skin

My Favorite Gua Sha Stone

Facial Cupping

Facial cupping uses small silicone cups to gently lift and move the skin — increasing blood flow, relaxing muscles, and helping tone and sculpt.

Benefits:

• Increases circulation and collagen production

• Releases tension in the jaw and forehead

• Helps firm and tone the skin

• Detoxifies by supporting lymph movement

How to Use:

1. Apply facial oil or serum

2. Gently squeeze the cup and glide it across your face in upward and outward motions

3. Don’t leave the cup in one place — always keep it moving

4. Focus on cheeks, jaw, and forehead — avoid any broken capillaries or active breakouts

Pro Tip: Use 2–3x a week for just 5–10 minutes. It’s a great post-workout skin ritual or PM wind-down step.

Shop: Facial Cupping Tool

Red Light Therapy

1. Red light therapy (RLT) uses low-level light wavelengths to stimulate cellular repair, reduce inflammation, and support collagen production.

   Benefits:

   • Boosts collagen and elasticity

   • Soothes inflammation and calms breakouts

   • Helps fade dark spots and fine lines

   • Supports skin healing and barrier repair

   How to Use:

   1. Start with clean, dry skin

   2. Hold your device close to your face or use a hands-free mask device

   3. Use for 5–20 minutes depending on your tool

   4. Follow with your skincare products

   Pro Tip: Use consistently 3–5x per week. It’s great before bed, especially after cleansing and gua sha or cupping.

Which One Is Right for You?

Try Gua Sha if you:

• Wake up puffy

• Want a natural sculpting ritual

• Carry tension in your face or jaw

• Have Sinus Pressure

Try Facial Cupping if you:

• Want a firmer, lifted appearance

• Hold tension in the brow or jaw

• Need more circulation + glow

Try Red Light Therapy if you:

• Struggle with acne, redness, or fine lines

• Want deep skin repair and collagen support

• Prefer a more passive, consistent tool

Shop Red Light Therapy Mask

Jenn’s Final Thoughts:

I truly love incorporating these tools into my skincare routine. As I’ve gotten older and started to notice changes in my skin, these gentle practices have made such a difference.

After a gua sha session, my skin feels noticeably more plump, lifted, and refreshed — and using red light therapy has been a game-changer for my acne-prone skin and overall inflammation.

Remember, this is more than just skincare — it’s self-care. Take your time, be gentle, and don’t feel like you need to apply pressure or rush through the motions. Soft, consistent movements will give you amazing results over time.

If you’re not sure where to begin or want to build the perfect clean skincare routine for your skin’s unique needs, I’ve got you!

Take my Skin Quiz here and let’s personalize your glow ritual.

Wishing the best with your skincare practice!

Stay glowing!